Mind Control spurted from the gate to set the pace under John Velazquez in the $150,000 Salvator Mile (G3) Saturday at Monmouth Park but found soon found odds-on favorite Hot Rod Charlie a tenacious rival, just holding him off by a head in a furious stretch battle.
Mind Control, the 2-1 second choice, broke sharply from the rail and clocked fractions of :23.60, :46.66, and 1:11.18 for six furlongs with Hot Rod Charlie in closest pursuit to his outside.
Making his first start since the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March and eager to race, Hot Rod Charlie dueled with Mind Control on the far turn and into stretch, edging to a brief lead late.
Mind Control dug in gamely on the rail and relentlessly battled back to narrowly prevail in 1:35.79 on a fast track. He returned $6.60.
Hot Rod Charlie was 6 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Shirl's Speight in the five-horse field.
“This was the plan, hopefully get to the lead and get a little breather,” Velasquez said. “The other horse (Hot Rod Charlie) put up a really good fight. I thought I would make the lead. Hot Rod Charlie doesn't have that much speed and my horse is coming from a sprint. I knew if I hustled him he would make the lead. I didn't want to hustle him too much where I didn't have anything left. We got a breather and when I got to the half-mile pole I kind of opened up again and he gave me a good run down the lane. Hot Rod Charlie actually put his head in front late but my horse was just too game.”
Anthony Sciametta, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, said the plan was to put Mind Control on the lead.
“When he shipped in this morning I spoke to Todd and Todd said to tell Johnny (Velazquez) if he can steal it early go ahead and do it,” he said. “I guess he must have looked the race over. That was the plan, exactly as it happened. It was perfect. I thought he was beat in the lane to be honest. But he is a very gutsy horse.”
Mind Control won for the first time in three starts this year, entering off a fifth-place finish in theChurchill Downs Stakes (G1) May 7 and a third in the Carter Handicap (G1) April 9.
Mike Smith, rider of Hot Rod Charlie, expressed his displeasure with the outcome of the race.
“Was I pleased? No,” he said. “I would not have been happy with anything but a win. Did he run well? Yes. He didn't run badly. Credit to the winner. He was gallant. My horse fought with him. I thought Mind Control would get the lead over us. He is coming out of a sprint. We got him to stand still in the gate and he did that – he stood still. I kind of missed the break. I think that's what happened to him in Dubai, too. That's why he was so far back there. Ability-wise I know what he is capable of, so that is the reason I am not pleased. I know what he can do and this was not it.”
Trainer Doug O'Neill said his team was obviously disappointed, “but we're just so proud of him getting back to the races. We're grateful for the day and looking forward to the future.”
Mind Control, owned by breeder Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stable, is a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Stay Thirsty out of Feel That Fire, by Lightnin N Thunder. His career record improves to 10-3-5 from 26 starts and earnings of $1,561,279.
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